Some people happily seem to maintain a youthful appearance as they grow gracefully into ‘old age’. Their skin remains form and has good tone. Others are not so fortunate and develop deep facial wrinkles and creases as their skin undergoes the aging process.
The way in which the skin ages, is dependent upon the program contained within each persons DNA, and primarily is beyond our control. There are many hormones within the body which control whether we have a youthful appearance as we age, or conversely develop all of the symptoms associated with the skin aging process.
Skin aging can be directly attributed to two factors: the intrinsic and environmental factors.
The Intrinsic Factor.
The intrinsic factor is dictated by the genes which have been passed down by our parents, in the form of inherited patterns.
If our parents tended to exhibit skin aging early in life, then it is probable that we will follow the same pattern. If our parents had many facial wrinkles, a furrowed brow and a double chin, then it is likely that we too will inherit these features.
The symptoms of these inherited features can certainly be hidden by anti-aging skin preparations, and skin surgery will provide a more lasting solution to skin aging. But it is a natural genetic effect, and the outcome of skin aging is inevitable.
The Environmental Factor
There are two main factors involved in skin aging caused by environmental or external factors. These are exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun, and either direct or indirect exposure to cigarette smoke. Both of which are avoidable and under the control of the individual.
Exposure to sunlight or photoaging causes premature aging of the skin. The symptoms are usually wrinkled facial skin, age spots, and changes in skin pigmentation.
Continual, direct exposure to the sun is the cause of skin cancer. Since people are generally living longer, and indulging in more outdoor activities, they are therefore exposed to more sunlight.
It is currently predicted that the common skin cancer known as malignant melanoma will become a leading cause of fatality in the coming years.
Another major factor affecting the skin aging process is the lifestyle we live in terms of the kinds of food we eat. The choice of eating an unhealthy diet and suffering from lack of regular exercise are also considerations which can affect the rate of skin aging, and hence appearance as we grow older.
Tags: Aging Process, Cigarette Smoking, Environmental Factors, Genes, Inherited Patterns, Intrinsic, Old Age, Skin, Ultraviolet Radiation, Wrinkles, Youthful